Cycling was the biggest winner when it came to participation rates in sports and exercise this year in the Republic of Ireland as the Covid-19 pandemic hit the country.
Walking was the most popular form of exercise this year
as 62 per cent of people surveyed in the Teneo Sport and Sponsorship Index
(TSSI) for 2020 said they walked for exercise, up 18 per cent this year.
Some 21 per cent of people surveyed said they had cycled
this year, with rates of participation almost doubling compared to last year.
That was a rate of growth not achieved by any other sport.
While more than one in five adults cycled in 2020 but it
is a male dominated activity with over twice as many men cycling as women.
The reported boom in cycling in the Teneo sports survey confirms what cycling shop owners told stickybottle during the pandemic as they all reported being busier than ever.
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Many people began cycling as a safe form of exercise and recreation during the pandemic. As some people went back to work later in the year, cycling became more popular as a safe way of commuting, especially as public transport capacity was reduced.
Walking was the most popular form of exercise among
women, with people from disadvantaged backgrounds and those aged over 45 years.
More than seven in 10 people in those demographic groups said they walked for
exercise.
The popular exercises, in order, in 2020 were:
- Walking: 62 per cent of people, up 18 per cent on last year
- Cycling: 21 per cent of people cycling, up nine per cent
- Swimming: 9 per cent of people swam, same as last year
- Gym or ‘personal fitness’: 19 per cent, down 10 per cent
- Running 16 per cent ran this year, up eight per cent
- Golf: 13 per cent played this year, up four per cent
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One interesting section of the research was that which
related to subscriptions and sports club memberships. The very high rates of
gym memberships, for example, show that a large section of society is willing
to pay a fee to engage in their sport.
That finding, coupled with the big increase in the number
of people cycling, suggests Cycling Ireland memberships or cycling club
memberships may also be in for a boom.
Despite gyms being closed for much of 2020, some 25 per
cent of Irish adults are members of a gym or fitness club; unchanged from last
year.
In the 18-24 years ago group; more than one third of
people had gym memberships. Overall, some 29 per cent of men were gym members
and 21 per cent of women had memberships.
Some 17 per cent of people were members of sports clubs
in 2020, slightly down on last year. Furthermore, 32 per cent of people already
in sports club joined a new club in 2020.
Teneo's research results for all sports
Motivation & Fitness levels
Technology & memberships
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